Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I am deputising for the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who regrets he cannot be here this evening.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment and I am aware of his longstanding interest in this subject. I assure him the Tánaiste shares his concern and that of the public in general regarding serious car crime and associated anti-social behaviour, in particular so-called joyriding. It is generally a hard core of youths who engage in this activity, many of whom are known to the Garda. Unfortunately, there is a high degree of recidivism. The Garda continually monitors trends in car theft, with a view to identifying and targeting persistent offenders and policing areas which are unfortunately prone to suffer such activities. Persons serving sentences for persistent offences related to so-called joyriding are not granted early temporary release except in the most exceptional circumstances.

With these aims, the Garda Síochána operates special foot and mobile patrols, targeting specific areas in response to identified local requirements. All vehicles the subject of unauthorised takings are technically examined when recovered and known offenders are targeted for these offences. In each Garda division there is a traffic unit that targets incidents of joyriding and enforcement outside peak traffic hours.

The Garda and local authorities have made good progress in recent years with regard to estate management and are actively reducing the opportunities for joyriding. For example, physical changes, such as barriers, speed ramps, in-fill housing, raising of plinth walls and widening of footpaths are being used to reduce access to areas frequented by youths engaged in these activities. Gardaí are constantly liaising with community groups and a number of projects are operating which have proved invaluable in dealing with offenders.

Among these are a number of Garda youth diversion projects, which are a community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiative seeking to divert young persons from becoming involved, or further involved, in anti-social and criminal behaviour by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve long-term employability prospects. By so doing, the projects also contribute to improving the quality of life within communities and enhance the relations between the Garda and the community. Funding has been provided by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for the Woodale Garda youth diversion project in the Darndale and Priorswood area.

The Garda Síochána Act 2005, which is the most significant item of legislation affecting the Garda Síochána since the force was established, provides for the establishment of a range of new bodies. Among these are joint policing committees. The fundamental idea behind the committees is that the policing of our society, and the communities which make it up, cannot take place in a vacuum where the Garda itself decides how policing is to be carried out, without any input of views from society and communities.

It is democratically desirable that the community makes such an input and in addition it is desirable that policing in our increasingly complex and diverse society requires such an input to be more effective. These committees provide a forum in which both sides can consult, discuss and make recommendations on matters affecting the policing of the local authority area. Central to this would of course be discussion of anti-social behaviour.

The joint policing committee has to be established in accordance with guidelines issued by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, after consulting the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The guidelines were issued in June. As a result of the number of local authorities in the State, the Tánaiste was of the view that it would be desirable to start by setting up a number of pilot committees and consequently 22 were set up. These include committees for the Dublin City Council area and Fingal.

The guidelines make special provision for the city council area. As a result of the size of the area, in addition to the joint policing committee, they provide for the establishment of five local sub-committees, corresponding to the city's local areas. In addition to members representative of elected members and the Garda Síochána, local officials and representatives of the voluntary and community sector can also attend. The Dublin committee and sub-committees have started their work.

As the Deputy has indicated, the Priorswood task force on joyriding was established in 1998 and is the only one of its kind in Ireland. Funding of €127,000 was made available by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for pilot implementation of its anti-joyriding strategy during the two-year period 2002 to 2003. This represented 75% of the total costs, with the balance coming from the then northern area health board, now the HSE. The task force's strategy involved developing joint initiatives with local agencies and the community to prevent young people from joyriding, engaging with joyriders, including those in custody, developing alternatives in education, training and leisure and developing appropriate models of family support.

The Minister has been informed by the Garda authorities that members of the Garda community policing unit have been part of the task force since 1998, which in conjunction with Dublin City Council and other local statutory community bodies has reduced the instances of joyriding by 25%.

I understand the report on the nature and impact of joyriding in Priorswood was not submitted to the Tánaiste's Department, but that a copy has very recently been obtained. The report notes a reduction in joyriding using various measurements, and this is welcomed. A key recommendation of the report referred to by the Deputy is that the joyriding issue be considered within a concerted approach by local government and local development agencies and the RAPID programme. This should be done within a wider context of developing local anti-poverty and social inclusion measures. There is no doubt this type of crime is a complex problem which, while requiring significant inputs from the criminal justice system, can only be tackled to lasting effect through a multi-faceted and multi-agency response involving the community and relevant statutory bodies.

The report is being considered in the Tánaiste's Department and I understand it is also being considered by other Departments which will have an input into the response to its recommendations. In addition, the report is being examined by senior Garda management in the Dublin metropolitan region.

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